Classic Beef & Spinach Manicotti 🍝🧀✨
A comforting Italian-inspired baked pasta dish—tender manicotti shells filled with savory beef, spinach, and creamy cheeses, baked in rich tomato sauce.
Ingredients
- 12 manicotti pasta shells
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
- 1½ cups ricotta cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions 👩🍳
- Preheat oven: Set to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook pasta: Boil manicotti shells according to package instructions. Drain and cool.
- Prepare filling: Heat olive oil in a skillet. Add ground beef, season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Cook until browned. Stir in spinach and cook 2–3 minutes until wilted. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Mix cheeses: In a large bowl, combine ricotta, half of the mozzarella, and half of the Parmesan. Stir in cooled beef-spinach mixture.
- Stuff shells: Carefully fill each manicotti shell with the mixture using a spoon or piping bag.
- Assemble: Spread 1 cup tomato sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange stuffed shells on top. Cover with remaining sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy hot.
Tips
- Make-ahead: Assemble the dish earlier in the day and bake before serving.
- Extra creamy: Add a spoonful of cream cheese to the filling.
- Variation: Swap beef for Italian sausage or turkey for a twist.
Caption & Engagement
Caption: “Classic Beef & Spinach Manicotti—hearty, cheesy, and baked to perfection 🍝🧀✨”
- Comment prompt: “Would you keep it classic or add sausage instead?”
- Rotating closers: “Save for your next family dinner.” • “Tag a friend who loves baked pasta.” • “Cheesy filling, rich sauce.”